The Types
REGAL TANG
The Regal Tang , also known as the Blue Tang and Dory from Finding Nemo, is native to the oceans in Fiji, Indonesia, Maldives, and the Solomon Islands. It is mainly a herbivorous species and will eat things such as dried seaweed and sea veggies. Growing up to a foot long in length, this marine fish likes a lot of room to swim and should be kept in an aquarium no smaller than 180 gallons. Another tip to keep in mind is that tangs of any kind normally don't get along well, therefore, keeping many of this type of fish or any of its relatives together is not a smart idea. This is a semi-aggressive fish and will pursue and nip at the unwanted family members. Although, there is a way around this family feud. If you acclimate and put all the fish in the tank at the same time, they should do perfectly fine. All in all, this is an easy to take care of, reef safe fish that is a beautiful addition to any aquarium.
YELLOW TANG
Also a familiar character from finding Nemo, the yellow Tang is one, if not the only fish, that is just about completely yellow. It is also a very popular fish among marine and reef aquariums. This yellow wonder is native to the waters around our own 50th state, Hawaii, and parts of Indonesia and the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. At full size, this fish will be around 8". Like all tangs, this fish should not be kept with other tangs, unless they all introduced at the same time. An herbivorous fish like this one prefers to eat dried seaweed or algae and sea veggies, but will also prey on shrimp like most other marine fish. Give this guy ample room to swim in a 100 gallon tank or more, as it will be the center of attention the majority of the time. Yellow tangs are very hardy fish and will live for quite a long time if fed and given the right environment.
POWDER BLUE TANG
Native to the Maldives and Sri Lanka, this fish is loved for its varying colors of blues and yellows. Requiring plenty of swimming space, it should be kept in a 125 gallon tank or larger. And with this fish, large aquariums are preferred. Especially because they tend to be a little more aggressive than other tangs towards their own kind and other sturgeonfish. So, acclimating them and putting them all in at the same time would be a wise idea. Another option, even though it's riskier, is to keep this fish in a very large tank. That way eliminates the pain of buying all your sturgeonfish and tangs at the same time, but it still gives you the risk of aggression. Like many other tangs, the powder blue tang is herbivorous but may eat the shrimp provided for other fish. Just make sure to give this fish sea veggies, algae, and dried seaweed as this will not only help their immune system but their aggression as well.
ACHILLES TANG
Not only is this one of my favorite picks because its name is the same as Achilles from Greek myth, but the coloration is unique. Like the yellow tang, they are native the waters of Hawaii. This tang requires a lot of swimming room with 180 gallons or more as it can get around 8 to 8.5" long. They are reef safe, although, this dramatic fish may be difficult to handle. They are prone to ick, (a parasitic disease in which white spots form on the fish's scales and can cause serious problems with the fish's gills, skin, and respiratory system in general. This can result in death for the fish and infestation in your tank if not properly treated.) but don't fret. With a good, strong deal of water flow and a good mix of shrimp, algae, and dried seaweed in their diet they should be content. They do seem to be very aggressive towards other tangs and sturgeonfish, so they are normally the only tang or sturgeonfish in the tank. This can be worked around though. You could introduce this fish last, or with the other fish and it may be peaceful. It all depends on your fish's specific personality.
PURPLE TANG
The purple of this tang complements its yellow tail fin and front fins, giving it its name. Unlike the other tangs mentioned, this fish originates from the Red Sea. It can get up to 10" in length, but does not require as much swimming room as the others, only needing 125 gallons or more per fish. Give them plenty of hiding spots and good lighting, and they will reward you back,. They are one of the most popular fish choice for people interested in getting a reef aquarium, and are quite the hardy fish. This particular tang does not play nicely with tangs of other body though ,and should be kept with other tangs only if introduced at once. Provide dried seaweed, algae, and sea veggies to help with the aggression and immune system. Shrimp will also be accepted too.